Jump Jump!

In a few more years, will Kris Kross references be lost to history?  Will the Daddy Mac and the Mac Daddy be as forgotten as the 3rd crew member of the Apollo 11, Crystal Pepsi, or the Strawberry-n-Creme Twinkies of yesteryore?

I don’t know.  But I do know that it’s strange to start a thought-thread with 2 of 1992′s most prolific hippity hoppers and end with a delectable discontinued pseudo-food snack treat.

Oh yes, and we believe in fun.  That much I do know.  In fact, I did have a reason for posting today:  While finishing up edits on Kat+Jeff’s session from a couple of weeks ago, I came across several shots that I just had to share.  They were just too much fun, and deserve to not be lost to historic obscurity.

I love how this sequence just captures the carefree and fun-loving essence of Kat+Jeff. It totally came through on the shoot that day. A consummate professional, Kat even held her face and pose even while Jeff leapt right over her.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

That’s what we asked ourselves when we first decided to “officially” take the plunge together into photography.  I think I read once that a little over 50% of new ventures fail within the first year, and something crazy like 95% within 5.  I never felt inclined enough to dig up solid statistics to see if it’s true, but looking back, I don’t think we ever thought we could “fail.”

What’s the worst that could happen? — we’d end up with thousands of photos, bear witness to (and become a part of) some of life’s to some of life’s most intimate and treasured moments, amass some fun toys and hopefully a handful of new friends.  All while doing what we love, with our most loved.

Hard to find a downside when you look at it like that.

One year ago tomorrow, we had the honor of capturing SLM+Ryan’s big day.  And other than remembering it as a beautiful occasion shared amongst some of the most fabulous and loving people we’ve met, we’ll also remember it as when we were proven right.

SLM+Ryan are cut from that certain kind of amazing that makes you glad you have them in your life.  And we blessed to now be able to count them amongst our friends.  One year later, we’re even able to add +1 to that list with their heartmelting baby boy, Reese.  So it only felt fitting that we kick-off our 2012 shoots with sharing more from the family that reminds us, every time we see them, why we love doing what we do so much.

Happy Anniversary SLM+Ryan, and cheers to your first full year of being awesome, baby Reese!

Mosey over to Vimeo to view in HD.

Location:  Sorrento Hotel, Capitol Hill, Seattle
Song:  Joseph Vincent – Bumblebee

When Cindi and I decided we wanted to do photography for-realsies together, one big factor was “think of all the cool people we’ll meet!”  And we definitely have had the opportunity to meet some of the most awesome folks we wouldn’t have otherwise.  Not just our couples and families, but their friends, families, dogs, cats, butchers, caterers, nannies, dentists, chimney sweeps… everyone.

The prospective client meeting is one of the funnest (yes, I’m making that a legit word) parts of our job.  It’s also one that tests the nerves more-so than others.  It’s like a blind date really.  Our first chance to really get to know each other without resting in the warmth of the email safety bubble.

A lot of people look at this as the job interview — and really, it is; a hire or not hire decision will be made — but we like to think of it as a little bit more than that.  Job interviews make us think of measuring capabilities, competence, and the ability to deliver on demands.  All very important, but it can’t stop there.  Finding a capable photographer is the easier first step, finding one you can trust can be the more challenging key.

Sasabune, one of our fave sushi spots, specializes in omakase (from Japanese 任す, entrust). Your dining experience is placed in the hands of the chef. He gets to flex his creative muscle, while you get to enjoy innovation and surprise.

When we say “trust,” we don’t mean someone who won’t con you.  We just simply mean someone who fits you and understands your unique style/vision for your day so that they can (and will) be as thoughtful about your day as you will be.  At the end of the day, that’s what we need to make sure we’ve captured — your story, the important little details you’ve poured a little bit of yourself into, the essence of your personalities revealed in the fleeting candid moments, and the emotion created by all the important loved ones you’ve surrounded yourself with.

It’s tough.  While most of your day will be carefully orchestrated, we believe that it’s the in-between moments that ultimately define the day as yours.  This is where you just have to you lose control and have to trust that your photographer understands what it is that you will treasure for years to come.  While you can plan and define the formal posed portraits that you need, it’s ultimately up to the photographer to know where the beauty is hidden in the unscripted, and be there to capture it.

Being there for reactions can be challenging. You never know who may say what, and how it'll go over.

The ideal photographer is different for everybody.  Regardless of who yours is, our advice in searching for one:  Find someone that’ll enable you to step back and will deliver what you didn’t even think to ask for.

When we were planning our wedding, almost nothing excited Cindi more than being able to share and compare notes with other brides-to-be.  They could go on and on discussing down to the finest details with such joy and excitement, and I couldn’t notice how “lucky” most brides feel:

“I booked xyz venue, I feel so lucky!”

“We’re waiting to hear back from abc vendor, but if we’re lucky they’ll take us!”

“Luckily we found lmnop photography, and they’ll be able to cover most of what we need!”

Having been on both sides of the wedding event experience (the wedded and the wedding vendor), we can’t say we agree with this line of thinking.  We can understand how stressful it can be at times, trying to get everything in-line for your day, but as photographers, our view has always been that we were the lucky ones.  You are entrusting us with encapsulating the mood and memories from your day, based on the moments we choose to freeze.  This, to us, is an honor and a privilege.

Most couples will spend most of their day with their photographers.  Possibly more time than with their spouse-to-be.  When you’re separately getting ready, seeing each other for the first time, hearing your first introduction as man+wife, experiencing your first dance, and celebrating with your closest loved ones, you’ll be doing it with a new shadow.  A sometimes unavoidably conspicuous and constantly clicking private papparazzo.  It’s not just the wedding days either — anytime you’re inviting us to an engagement, couple, or family portrait shoot, we believe you’re sharing some of your most intimate and treasured moments for us to capture.  And to be chosen, by you, to be allowed this role is a privilege.

Me in shadow-mode. Sometimes we can't help but pull in close. Reaaaalll close.

The too-sexy couple sharing a joke. We're seconds from one of the "in-between" moments between staged poses that we like to capture. While I was hanging in close, our two lovelies whispered the types of inside jokes all couples have. I'll just be there to make sure I freeze those moments.

The more we shoot, the luckier and luckier we feel.  We have the opportunity to do something we love, together, and make so many awesome friends in the process.  We’re so thankful to be allowed the chance to get to know you, and live some of your life’s best memories with you.

Shoot wrapped! Memories made! Here's the 4 of us before celebrating the close of a beautiful sunny Saturday over dinner.

More shots from this session with our couple Jean+Jun to come.  Stay tuned!